Monday Afternoon News, March 18

IDOT Warns Northern Iowa Travelers About Weather/Road Conditions

AMES, Iowa (AP) - Travelers in northern Iowa have been advised to take extra care because of a possible blizzard. The Iowa Transportation Department says the 25-35 mph winds and snowfall on Monday will lead to drifting snow and reduced visibility. The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning for several northern Iowa counties. Winter weather advisories have been issued for most of the counties in the eastern quarter of Iowa.

Climatologist Says Cool Weather Will Stick Around

(Des Moines) -- The official start of spring may be scheduled for Wednesday, but the State of Iowa Climatologist says don't look for the temperatures to warm up anytime soon. Harry Hillaker says despite a few days last week when statewide temperatures were about ten degrees above normal, he says cooler conditions will stick around for another few weeks.

Listen to

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Hillaker says normal temperatures for this time of year would see the highs at 47 degrees and the overnight lows at 24 degrees with a half a degree increase each day. He says the weather is a drastic contrast from last year, but he says given the continuation of a drought scenario, the cooler temperatures are better. Listen to

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Northwest Iowa has received a little precipitation within the last couple of weeks, but Hillaker says "little" is the operative word. He says due to the frost still in the ground, the precipitation that did fall may have ran off, instead of re-charging our depleted soil moisture levels. Listen to

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Hillaker says on the plus side, the recent rains and snows have helped fill farm ponds, creeks, streams, and rivers.

County Supervisors Cancel Tuesday Meeting

(Le Mars) -- Due to a lack of agenda items, the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors have announced they will not be holding a meeting on Tuesday. The Supervisors will again convene the following week, Tuesday, March 26 at 9:30 at the Plymouth County Courthouse Board Room.

Woman Teacher Pleads Guilty To Having Sex With Student

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) - A woman who had been teaching chemistry at a Cedar Rapids high school has pleaded guilty to having sex with a student. Forty-two-year-old Heather Adams made the plea Monday at Linn County District Court, before jury selection began. Adams admitted to one count of sexual exploitation by a school employee, amisdemeanor. Prosecutors say she had sex with an 18-year-old student in May last year. She resigned her job at Washington High School soon after the incident. Adams was given two years of probation and a deferred judgment, which means that if she successfully completes her probation, the conviction will be removed from her record.

Settlement Agreement Between U of I and Former Employee Released

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - A settlement agreement shows the University of Iowa and one of its former employees agreed not to disparage each other when he left the university amid a messydisciplinary dispute. The Associated Press received a copy of the agreement Monday after a two-year legal fight for access. It shows that surgeon John Chaloupka agreed not to disparage the university after his June 2011 departure and that Chaloupka and the university agreed they would only say that he left to pursueanother opportunity. The deal allowed Chaloupka to keep his $380,000 per-year salary for the 2010-2011 academic year, even though he was moved to a non-clinical position, with a different office and no access to theuniversity's clinical computer records. He now works at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Florida.

Homeless Woman Arrested For Cocaine Possession

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) - Iowa City police say a homeless woman arrested after cocaine was found in her purse told authorities it was baking soda. Charnise McCambry was a passenger in a vehicle pulled over Sunday night. A plastic baggie with a white substance was found inside McCambry's purse after a K9 officer detected narcotics. The 41-year-old McCambry told officers the substance was baking soda that she used to brush her teeth. More than 60 grams of crack cocaine were found inside the purse. McCambry was arrested and faces several charges including controlled substance violation. Records do not list an attorney for McCambry. ---